Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is a game-time decision for Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens due to an ankle injury.
Drew Dougherty of Texas TV supplied the details on Hopkins' injury:
The 2013 first-round pick is part of a formidable receiving duo with Texans face of the franchise Andre Johnson. However, the offense is built around Arian Foster and the rushing attack due to a perpetually unstable quarterback position.
Late in the 2014 campaign, NFL.com's Chris Wesseling made note of a Pro Football Focus stat that shows how productive Hopkins has been in his second year as a pro:
First-year head coach Bill O'Brien stated before the season that Hopkins had made significant strides after showing flashes of brilliance but also inconsistency as a rookie, per the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith (h/t NFL.com's Kevin Patra ):
He's one of the guys out there that I think is much improved from April 7, when we started, to where we are now. He just has to keep it going. He's a very hard worker. It's very important to him. He's a guy that really, in our opinion, gets better and better everyday. So just got to keep it going.
The numbers suggest Hopkins has indeed improved, given that he's well over 1,000 yards receiving and has increased his already-impressive yards per catch from 2013.
Hopkins gives Johnson the complement he's never really had his entire career, yet the Texans could use a superior quarterback before their offense reaches its full potential. Without Hopkins in the lineup, defenses can bracket coverage toward Johnson more easily, and there isn't a viable alternative as a No. 2 option.
The J.J. Watt-led defense and Foster will have to do even more to drive any success Houston has while Hopkins is out. O'Brien is heralded as a QB guru, but he will have to work some magic to keep the Texans passing game productive with Hopkins out of the lineup.
Slot receiver Damaris Johnson has never played a considerable, significant role on an NFL team before this season. DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin haven't panned out as mid-round, 2012 draft choices, either. They are the next men up on the depth chart.
Regardless of how serious Hopkins' injury is, Texans general manager Rick Smith would do well to make wide receiver a priority position this offseason through free agency and the draft.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1CdGou7
via IFTTT December 19, 2014 at 11:10AM
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